The minimum age for a youth to work in Canada varies depending on the province.
At the age of 14, for example, youths may start working most jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec. In Alberta, a 12-year-old may work for up to two hours a day during a school day and no longer than eight hours a day on weekends, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. A child 12 or younger can also work in British Columbia with permission from the Director of Employment Standards. The minimum age is higher in Manitoba, where the youngest workers are 16 years old.
It should be noted that in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, some children younger than 14 can work in jobs without a permit, but there are certain restrictions. Employers everywhere in Canada have a duty of care and must protect the health and safety of the young workers.
Restrictions in Canada
Child workers in some provinces need permission from a parent or guardian to work. In some cases, the minor will need permission from his or her school principal or the province's director of employment to work.
Generally, the child will be required to be in school at normal times of the day and may not work at night. In most provinces, workers under a certain age can't work after 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., and minors can't work more than two or three hours a day on a school day or more than eight hours on a non-school day.
Most provinces prohibit minors from working dangerous jobs or jobs that could have a bad effect on the child's moral development. In New Brunswick, that means minors under 14 can't work in garages or dance halls; in Nova Scotia, minors under the age of 16 can't work in shooting galleries or pool halls.
Canadian minors are allowed to work on farms, in which case some child labour laws won't apply in the same way. For instance, Nova Scotia youths under 16 can't work at tree planting, brushing or spraying, unless they're employed by a family member. In Quebec, a student can miss up to six weeks of school if his or her parents request that the child help with urgent work.
Province by province breakdown
Alberta
An employer can hire an "adolescent" (defined as a person between 12 and 14 years old) to work two hours on a school day or eight hours on a non-school day, only between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. A parent or guardian must provide written consent to the employer. A permit is required from the Director of Employment Standards.
British Columbia
Children under 12 years old can work, but need permission from the Director of Employment Standards, who may also set the conditions of employment. This usually applies in "exceptional circumstances," such as when the child is in the entertainment industry. Youths between 12 and 15 years old need written consent from a parent or a guardian.
Manitoba
The minimum age is 16 years old. Under the age of 16, the worker needs a permit from the Employment Standards Office. A parent, legal guardian, employer and the principal of the child's school must also sign the permit application form.
New Brunswick
Youths between the ages of 14 and 16 can work no earlier than 6 a.m. and no later than 10 p.m. Those younger than 16 cannot work more than three hours on a school day and no more than six hours on weekends. School and work combined must not exceed eight hours in a day. Anyone under 14 years old is banned from working in any industrial undertaking, in the forest industry, the construction industry, a garage or automotive service station, a hotel or restaurant, a theatre, dance hall or shooting gallery, or as an elevator operator.
Newfoundland and Labrador
A 16-year-old can work between the hours of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., as long as he or she also has a 12-hour period of rest between shifts. Time in school and work cannot exceed eight hours. Work cannot exceed eight hours in a day or three hours in a school day. The Act also prohibits youth from working during a strike or a lockout period.
After obtaining written consent from a parent or guardian, a child younger than 16 years old can work. A child under 14 is banned from hazardous work unless prescribed in the regulations under the Act.
Nunavut and Northwest Territories
Anyone under 17 should not work in the construction industry, underground or in an open pit and quarry, as a hoist operator, or where asbestos or silica is handled. Children under 19 years old cannot work where liquor is sold or kept for sale.
Nova Scotia
Restrictions apply to those who are younger than 14. Children are not permitted to work more than eight hours a day and no more than three hours a day without a certificate. Hours of work must fall between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and the combination of school and work is eight hours maximum.
Unless a youth under 16 years old is employed by family members, he or she is restricted from working in the mining industry, in manufacturing, in construction, in forestry, in garage and auto service stations, in hotels and restaurants and in billiard rooms.
Ontario
There is no specified minimum age, but there are specific restrictions on types of work based on age. For instance, a window cleaner or a worker in underground mines must be at least 18 years old. A youth can work for a surface mine or a mining plant at the age of 16, as well as do construction and logging. A 15-year-old can work for factory operations and repair shops and a 14-year-old can start working at other "industrial establishments."
Prince Edward Island
The minimum age, with restrictions, is 16. The young employee works no earlier than 7 a.m. and no later than 11 p.m. On a school day, the youth should not work longer than three hours and never during school hours. In one week, work hours should not exceed 40. No employer is allowed to hire a child in construction.
Quebec
From 6 a.m. until 11 p.m., a 14-year-old can work, though not during school hours. Those under 14 also need a written letter from a parent or a guardian to work.
Saskatchewan
The minimum employment age is 16 years old. The youth cannot work more than two shifts in any 12-hour period. Employers must also pay for or provide transportation between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 7 a.m.
Yukon Territory
There is no provision for a minimum age and no minimum wage for children under 17.
